Advocate for Policy

Your voice has the power to shape the future of North Dakota. Contact your legislators or testify at a committee hearing to support or oppose legislation that impacts victims and survivors. 

Find your legislators

For North Dakota legislation, contact your local senators and representatives. Find your local legislators on the North Dakota legislative branch’s website.

To make a difference regarding federal legislation, you can contact the three legislators for North Dakota.

• Senator Kevin Cramer (R)
• Senator John Hoeven (R)
• Representative Kelly Armstrong (R)

Contacting your legislators

If you write, call, or visit your legislator, include the following information:

• Who you are (including organization name if contacting on behalf of an organization)
• Where you are from (if calling on behalf of an organization, include entire service area, not just where the organization is located)
• The issue of concern to you (be specific, what bill number or budget amendment line item)
• Tell them why you are concerned.
• What you want from them (support for a bill, opposition to a budget cut, action on a proposal, etc.)
• Thank them for their time.
• Be prepared to answer any questions they may have.

Tips for testifying at a committee hearing

• Your testimony does not need to be long. It should be a maximum of 3 minutes, but it can also be shorter.
• Before you start writing your testimony outline, figure out what key points you want to make. Choose no more than 3 key points.
• Start your testimony by saying who you are and where you are from. If you are testifying on behalf of an organization, name the organization you represent and mention your entire service area.
• Explain why you are there. Include the bill number, what the bill is about, and whether you are concerned about it or support it.
• Tell them why you are taking your position. This is where you talk about your key points. Include real-life stories (protecting confidentiality), statistics from your service area, and how this legislation would impact survivors and/or the services you are able to provide.
• State what you want them to do (Ex. “Please support or oppose SB ####”)
• Thank them for their time.
• Be prepared to answer any questions they may have.